Printing mechanism



July 1o, 1934. C, D 'LA,E 1,965,980

PRINTING MCHANISM Filed Sept. 29, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 m@ l Sm- 21 myya? AT'ToRN EY July 10,1934'. C u LAKE 1,965,980

PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 29, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 gym 0R July 10,v1934.

C, D. LAKE PRINTING MECHANISM Filed sept. 29, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 B knATTORNEY July 10, 19734. C, D, LAKE 1,965,980

` PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 29, 1932 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORAT'TORNEY c. D. LAKE 15965980 PRINTING MECHANISM v Filed Sept. 29, 19327 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 10, 1934.

' AT'oRNEY July 1o, 193i PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 29, 1932 7Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTORNEY C. D. LAKE 1,965,980

July l0, 1934. c. D. LAKE PRINTING MECHANISM Filed Sepi'I 29 1932 '7Sheets-Sheet 7 UEUUUUHU EDUUUUUDE F IGMo AUCDEFGHIJKLMIUPQRSTUVWXYZINVENTOR 5&2 am M ATTCSRNEY Patented 10,1934

UNITED STATES PATE-NT or'ric'sr.

mesne assignments,- to International 'Business Machines Corporation, NewYork, N. Y., 'a corporation of New York Application September 29, 1932,Serial No. 635,325

13 Claims. ,(Cl. lol-Q3) Y This invention relates to tabulating machinesand more particularly to improvements -in the printing mechanismstherefor. y

Tabulating machines as presently developed j I are provided withprinting mechanisms, whereby numerals represented by index pointperforations may be indicated by printing upon a record strip and, inaddition thereto,. such printing mechanisms are also employed torepresent the rel` sults of some computation, such as a total of aseries of items. It frequently happens that it is desirable to identifythe printed items or computations by printed words', abbreviations orthe like, and in some instances'thi's can readily be accomplished bysubstituting letter type for the numeral bearing type. so that the indexpoints will represent alphabetical or other characters. Due to thelimitations in the number of index points in a card column which'i's"'usually ten, a llimited number of characters maybe printed,detracting from the usefulness of such an expedient.

It is then the main object of the present invention to extend the`usefulness of such printing mechanisms whereby they may be called upon,when occasion requires, to print either noumerals orsubstantially all-of the alphabetical characters andnnder control of a single cardcolumn.

It is a further object to provide an'improved mechanismA designed to becontrolled by a single card column which may print either alphabeticalor -numerical characters arranged in groups, which characters are far inexcess of the number of index points in a card column.

it is a further object of the present invention to provide improvedmeans whereby group selection and type selection 'occur during the samecard feeding cycle and by the same analyzing means. In order to carryout the above object,. each type bar is provided or has associatedtherewith two stopping pawls, both of which may be actuated by a singlemagnet controlled from a single brush. Mechanical control is exercised Aover these two stopping pawls so they operate a1- ternately, the one setoperating to select the zone from which printing is to'take place, andthe second pawl operating to select 'a particular character in theselected zone.

In carrying out the present invention, thepreferred means comprises atype carrying member providedwitha plurality of groups of type, vonegroup, for example, being numeral type; a second, i substantially athird of the letters of the alphabet; a third, the second third of theletters of the alphabet and the last, if so'desiredfthe remainingletters of the alphabet. The several groups.

-thus forming a two-hole combinational, reading.

of type are overlapped so that a'numeral type is followed by a type ofeach of 4the other three groups, and the numeral type are arranged to benormally presented to the printing vline as the card perforations.register with the usual lower analyzing brushes. Each group of type isrepresented on the record card with what is known as a zoningperforation. These zoning perforations apply only to the alphabeticalcharacters, the numerical characters being indicated by singlevperforations in the usualmanner, and the alphabetical characters beingindicated by a numerical perforation accompanied by a zoningperforation,

As the `record cards pass the analyzing brushes, the numericalperforations are rst sensed,V and cause the type bars to be interruptedwith the corresponding numerical type in printing position. Followingthis operation, the zoning holes are analyzed bythe same set ofanalyzing brushes and controlthe second stopping pawl which causesretrograde movement of the type bars to select one of the type adjacentto the numeral type in accordance with the location of the zoningperforation on the record card.

Various other objects and advantages of the inventionwill be obviousfromthe following particular description of one form of mechanism embodyingthe invention or from' an inspection of the accompanying drawings; andthe invention also constitutes certain new and novel features of.construction and combination of parts hereinafter IAset forth andclaimed.

In the drawings: l

Fig- 1 is a central.l section through the card 90 feeding mechanism onthe tabulating machine;

Fig. 2 is a detail of the card feed clutch mechanism;

Fig. 3 vis an mechanism; I

Figs. 4 and 4a taken together with Fig. 4 placed above Fig. 4a representa central section to the alphabetical printing mechanism of the machine;

Flgf is a detail of a pawl restoring cam and 100. operating connections;

Fig. 6 is a detail of the type'hammer tripping cam and follower; v

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of thetype bar stopping mechanism, the viewbeing taken substantially along` theline 7-7 of Figs. 4 and 4a;

Fig. 8 is a detailed'sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 4;

' Fig. 9` is a detail of the type bar stopping pawl no operatingmechanism; a

end elevationv of the card feeding Fig. 10 is an enlarged detailposition view of the type bar and its operating pawls; and

y Fig. 11 is a fragment of the card showing the combinationalarrangement of the perforations thereon. f

Referring to Fig. 11, the record card R has the usual perforations forindicating numerical values as shown at the left end of the card. Thealphabetical characters from A to I are combinations of one of thenumerical characters from 9 to 1, plus a perforationI in the zero indexpoint position. The characters J to R comprise a perforation in one ofthe numerical positions 9 to 1, plus a perforation-in the X index pointposition. The remaining letters of the alphabet, namely S to Z, comprisea combination including one of the perforations 9 to 2,plus aperforation in the R index point position.

The record cards R are placed in the usual feed magazine 10, Fig. 1,from which they are fed one by one by the picker 11 into engagement withthe usual feed rollers 12 which convey the cards downwardly past theusual upper analyzing brushes UB and exactly one machine cycle laterpast the lower analyzing brushes LB, after which the cards continuedownwardly into engagement with the usual stacker mechanism 13 whichpasses the cards, as they are sent through, on to the usual stack 14.The card feed mechanism shown in Fig. 1 is of the usual structure foundin this type of machine. In the present instance, however, provisionislmade for feeding the cards every alternate cycle. The manner in whichthis alternate feeding of cards is effected will now be described.

4Pulley shaft 15 (Fig. 1) driven from the usual motor located in thebase of the machine,'has secured thereto a gear 16 meshing with a gear17 (see also Fig. 3). On the same center with gear 17 and connectedthereto is a gear 18 which` has driving connection with a gear 19 towhich is secured a driving member 20, freely mounted on a shaft 21 (seealso Fig. 2). Secured to shaft 21 is a clutch member 22 to which issecured a gear 23 and a spring pressed clutching dog 24, normally heldin the position shown in Fig. 2 by the armature latch 25, which iscontrolled in its operation by magnet 26. Energization of magnet 26 willraise the armature latch 25 and permit coupling of arm 22 and drivingmember 20, so that gear 23 will rotate with the driving member and withthe pulley shaft 15. Magnet 26 will become deenergized before thecompletion ofa revolution of shaft 21 and the clutch will there- .foredisconnect at the completion of this revolu-A tion. The gear 23 has theusual gear connection to the three uppermost pairs of feed rollers 12whichare also gearedto drive the picker 11 in the usual manner. Byenergizing magnet 26 each alternate cycle of operation of the machine,the cards will feed during one cycle and the mechanism will remain idlefor the next, then feed cards, remain idle and so on.

Printing mechanism ,The right end of pulley shaft 15 V(Fig. 3) hassecured thereto a gear 30 which meshes with one o f a group of-gears 31,one of which meshes with agear 32-secured upon a shaft 33 (see alsoFigs. 7 and 9). In Fig. 9 shaft 33 is shown as having secured thereto agear 34 meshing with a gear 35 secured upon the listing cam shaft 36.The ratio between gears 35 and 34 is two to one, the gear 34 beingarranged to make one complete revolufeed cycles are required for a fullrevolution of shaft 36 and since it has been pointed out above, a cardis fed each alternate cycle, it follows that shaft 36 will make onecomplete revolution for each card, a card being fed during the firsthalf revolution of the shaft and the feed mechanism remaining idle forthe second half revolution. Shaft 36 carries a cam 36a adapted to closea contact 36h once each revolution thus completing the circuit throughmagnet 26 which is shown in Fig. 9 as being connected in series betweencontact 36h and a suitable source of current, such as a battery asindicated.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 4a, the type bars 37 are mounted for velticalreciprocation in the f'rame of the machine. The lower endof each typebar is connected by a link 38 to the end of an 'arm 39 which is pivotedat 40. Arm 39 is urged in a clockwise direction by a spring 41 anchoredat its upper end to across bar 42 carried between a pair of links 43(see also Fig. 7). The lower ends of the links 43 are pivoted to a bailstructure 44, which is also pivoted at 40 and the upper ends of thelinks are connected to arm 45 which are loosely pivoted-on a shaft 46.The arm 45 has adjustable screw and nut connections 47 with cam followerarm 48 which is provided with follower roller 49 extending within a camslot in box cam 50. Box cam 50 isy secured to the printing shaft 36 andcontrols the elevation of the type 1 bars 37 as the record card ispassing the analyzing brushes and causes the lowering or restoration ofthe type bars during the cycle in which the card feed mechanism is idle.As the cam 50 rotates in a clockwise direction, the follower arm 1 48will follow the groove of the cam and cause the clockwise rocking of arm45 which will draw upwardly on links 43, carrying therewith the crossbar 42 which tends to extend the springs 41.

At the same time the elevation of the links 43 1 will rock the bail 44upwardly out of engagement with the arms 39, which, under the influenceof their individual springs 41 will tend to follow the movement of thebail. If the movement of the type'bars is interrupted at any point, thearm 39 will berestrained against further movement,

.and spring 41 will merely extend permitting the and 1,0) which areadapted to be engaged bya stopping pawl 52 (Fig. 4). Each type bar isalso provided with a series of stops 53, -which are adapted to cooperatewith a stopping pawl 54 located directly above the stopping pawl 52, the

two pawls related to any type bar being offset so that each willcooperate with its own set of stops. When the type bar 37 is used toprint numerical data only, the lower set of pawls 52 alone is broughtinto action to cooperate with the stops 51. 'Ihese stops are arranged inaccordance with the location of the numerical index point positions onthe record cards and interruption of any stop 51 by engagement with pawl52 will position the corresponding type 55 on the printing line vof theplaten 56. v

Tripping of pawl 52 is controlled by the print magnet 57 (see Fig. 10)which, upon energization, will attract its armature 58 which is pivotedat tion for each card feed cycle, so that two card 59 and which willcause movement of call wire "150 60 toward the right as viewed in thisfigure, to rock latch 61 about its pivot 62 releasing the pawl 52 whichthereupon, under the action of spring 63 will rock in a clockwisedirection to intercept the stop 51 of the type bar 37. Magnet 57 iswired directly to the lower analyzing brush LB as seen in-Fig. 10.

Arrival of the perforation at the lower brush will `instantaneouslyclose the circuit to the magnet 57 to stop the type bar 37 in positionto present the type corresponding to the location of the perforation, atthe printing line. This is in accordance with the usual method oflocating the type bars for the purpose of printing numerals undercontrol of a single perforation in a column on the record card.

The upper set of stopping pawls 54-is carried by a vertically movableerosshead 64 which is slidable upon slide posts 65. Crosshead 64 andpawls 54 are adapted to be moved downwardly after the lower analyzingbrushes LB have analyzed the index point positions 9 to 0 of the recordcard. During the period that the index point positions 0 to R arepassing the lower brushes, a perforation encountered by the brushes atthis time will cause energization of the magnet 57 a second time, whichthrough the connections about to be described will ,trip the pawl .54 asit is moving downwardly. The pawl 54 will thereupon engage with the stop53 of the type bars and move the type bars down, one, two yor threesteps, depending upon the location of the perforation inthe record card.

Fig. 10 shows the condition of the parts for selecting the letter K.Reference to Fig. 11 will show'that the letter -K is represented by thecombination of perforations in the leight index p oint position and inthe X index point position. As the record card passes kthe loweranalyzing brushes the perforation in the eight index point position willenergize magnet 57 and trip pawl 52 to interrupt the type bar in the 8printing position. Subsequent energization of the magnet 57, as theindex point position X is analyzed, will trip the pawl 54 as theerosshead 64 is descending and pick upthe type bar 37 to move itdownwardly two steps to present the second type above the 8 to printingposition. Ktype.

The mechanism for timing the various operations will now be described.Referring to Figs. 4 and 4a, the printing cam shaft 36 has securedthereto a gear 66 which, through gears 67 and 68 drives a gear 69secured upon a shaft 70. Referring to Figs. 7 and `9 shaft 70 has at itsouter ends two pairs of complementary cams 71 cooperating with suitablefollower rollers on a member 72 pivoted at 73 to the frame of themachine. An arm of member 72 has connection with the erosshead 64through a turnbuckle connection 74. The upper set of stopping pawls 54is normally held in inoperative position by a bail' 75 pivoted at 76 tothe movable erosshead- 64 (see also Fig. 5). The bail 75 is providedIwith a rearwardly extending arm having a cam follower portion 77 whichis adapted to cooperate with a cam 78 secured upon the shaft 70. As theerosshead descends, the bail and its pivot point will move downwardlyaway from the cam 78 and thev bail will rock slightly in a`counterclockwise direction under the influence of the spring 79 tothereby free the pawls 54 for type bar intercepting operation. Latches80 which cooperate with the stopping pawls 54 are adapted t0 be latchedin the position shown in Fig.

This is the shaft 70 to effect the release of latches 80 so they maymove into engagement with the stop pawls 54 before the latter arereleased by the bail 75. Thus, as the erosshead 64 is descending themember 80 will be in the position shown in -Fig. 5, holding the pawl 54out of engagement with the type bars. Energization of magnet 57 atV thistime will attract its armature to move the call wire 60 to the rightrocking the latch 61.

as explained above. The upper end of the latch 61 is provided with anoiset projection 87 which engages a depending nger of the latch80 androcks the latch in a clockwise direction to the position shown in Fig.10, thus causing the latch to release stoppingpawl 54 which willthereupon, under the influence of a spring 88, rock in a clockwisedirection to enter one of the notches or stops 53, thereby picking. upthe type bar and moving it downwardly to the extent determined by thesubsequent movement of the erosshead 64.

After the several type bars have been positioned in accordance with theperforation in the record cards, printing may be effected by means ofthe usual printing hammers 89 (Fig. 4) which are carried by a common bar90 being pivoted thereon at 91. The bar 90 has link connection 92 to alever 93 pivoted at 94, which lever has adjustable link connection 95(see also Fig. 4w to an arm 96 pivoted at 97. In Fig. 6 the arm 96 isshown as having a roller 98 and a tripping edge 99 cooperating with acam 100 and a tripping block 101, respectively. The cam 100 is integralwith the box cam 50 and the block 101 is mounted thereon. Cam 100cooperates with the ,roller 98 to retract the printing hammers, afterwhich the roller moves out of cooperation with the cam 100 and thetripping edge 99 is in sliding engagement with the block 101. As the cam100 continues to turn, the edge 99' will drop off the edge of the blocklOl giving a sharp drop to the edge 99, thus effecting a rapid printingaction'the spring 102 in Fig. 4 serving to rapidly swing the hammersagainst the printing type.

After printing has been effected, the stopping pawls 52 (Fig, ,10) arerestored under the influence of a bail 103 pivoted at 104 and havingconnection at 105 with a link 106 whose operative end is connected toa'bell crank lever 107 pivoted at 108 to the frame of the machine. -Thebell crank lever 107 is engaged by a pin 109 carried by a cam 110. Thepin 109 actuates the linkage to elevate the bail 103 at the same timethat a bail 111, pivoted at 112 is rocked in a clockwise directionagainst the latches 61 to move them beneath the pawls 62 to securelyeffect a latching cooperation between the pawl and the latch. The, bail111 has connection at 113r with toggle links 114, one point of which ispivoted at 115 to the frame. of the machine. The connecting point of thelinks 114 carries -an arm 116 whose upper tion of the spring 121 is torestore the toggle lro links 114 and the member 116 to the positionshown in Fig. 10 after the bail 111 has operated to restore the latches61. After the crosshead 64 has again been returned to its uppermostposition, the bail is operated by the cooperating c am 78 to restore thelatches 54 and hold them in restored position until such time as thebail moves downwardly to take a reading from the next record card.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamentalnovel features of the invention as applied to a single modication, itwill be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changesin the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operationmay be made by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit of the invention. It is the intentiond therefore to be limitedonly as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an accounting machine comprising in combination, a printingbarcarrying a plurality of groups of type common to a card column,controlling means whereby index points in a certain card eld control theselection of a particular group of type, and means for causing the samecontrolling means to control the selection of a particular type in agroup. 2. In an accounting machine comprising a bar provided with aplurality of groups of type, a reciprocating member -adapted to presentsaid groups to a printing point, card analyzing means adapted tocauseselection of one of saidk groups for printing action and meanscontrolled by the same analyzing means for subsequently causingselection of a..3'articular type in the selected group.

3. In a printing mechanism having a type bar provided with a pluralityof groups of type elements, means for selecting a group of type, meansfor selecting a particular type in the selected group and a commonactuating means for controlling the operation of both said selectingmeans.

4. Ina printing mechanism having a type bar provided with a plurality ofgroups of type elements, means for selecting a group of type, means forselecting a particular type in the selected means whereby said actuatoris adapted to effect successive operation of both said selecting means.

5. In a machine of the class described having a reciprocable typecarrier provided with a plurality of type elements, means for advancingsaid carrier to printing position to present a particular type toprinting position, means for effecting retrograde movement. of saidcarrier, means for determining the extent of said retrograde movement topresent the type element adjacent to said initiallypresented element toprinting position and means for eiecting printing from said adjacentelement.

6. In a printing mechanism, means for successively analyzing a pluralityof index point positions in a column of a record card; a reciprocabletype carrier provided with a plurality of groups of type elements, asingle selecting device operable by said analyzing means Vfor eachperforation analyzed and means controlled by said device for effecting a'group selection and a type selection in a common record controlledactuator and 'i l said selections being in accordance with the time ofenergization of said electromagnet.

8. A printing mechanism having a type carrier with a plurality of groupsof type thereon and having the type of one group intermediate the typeof another group, means for moving said type carrier into diiTerentpositions, a stop member for determining the printing positions of saidcarrier, means for operating said stop member for selecting a' type andmeans for subsequently shifting the selected type with respect to saidstop member to select a type of a different group.

9. A printing mechanism having a reciprocable type bar provided with aplurality vof type elements, means for controlling the differentialmovement. of said bar in one direction to select a type element forprinting and further means for subsequently controlling the diierential'movement of the bar in the opposite direction to effect further typeelement selection.

10. A printing mechanism having a reciprocable type bar provided with aplurality of type elements, an invariably movable member adapted to movesaid bar in one direction, a second invariably movable member adapted tomovesaid bar in the opposite direction and means for associating saidbar with each of said members to effect positioning of the bar topresent a particular type element for printing.

11. A printing mechanism comprising an invariably movable member, a typebar provided with a plurality of type elements connected to said memberfor movement therewith n one direction, a secondv invariably movablemember, means for interrupting movement of said bar with said firstnamed member and means for associating said bar with said second memberformovement therewith.v

12. A printing mechanism comprising an invariably movable member, a typebar provided with a plurality.of type elements connected to said memberfor movement therewith in one direction, a second invariably movablemember, means for interrupting movement of said bar with said firstnamed member and means for associating said bar with said second memberfor movement therewith, both said means operating in alternatingsequence.

13. A printing mechanism comprising an invariably movable member, a typebar provided with a plurality of type elements and connected to saidmember for movement therewith in one direction, a second invariablymovable4 member, an electromagnet and means controlled thereby forcausing interruption of the movement of said bar' .with said rst namedmember and further means controlled by said electromagnet forsubsequently connecting said bar to said second invariably movablemember for movement therewith.

CLAIR D. LAKE.

